China swimming champ Ye Shiwen enrols in top Beijing university

The 2012 London Games champion in the women’s 200- and 400-meter medleys registered this week at Beijing’s prestigious Tsinghua University under a government program waiving the grueling entrance exam for outstanding athletes.

The 18-year-old Ye told local media she plans to study law, but will have to balance classes with training for next month’s Asian Games at Incheon, South Korea.

Ye set a world record in the 400 IM and an Olympic record in the 200 IM at London 2012, although she did not win a medal in any event at last year’s world championships in Barcelona.

Numerous Chinese champion athletes have been admitted to top universities as a means to a post-athletics career.